Job Discussion Forums

Mr. Kalgukshi · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:44 am Post subject:

Lets stick to the topic and away from comments directed at the messenger and not the message. If not, the thread will no longer be available among other things.

jeffinflorida · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:17 am Post subject:

Be a sport get up there and talk for 15 minutes and make them laugh....

Angel46 · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Hangzhou

Alright people, I performed the 'gig' and it was a huge hit! This was thanks in big part to AussieGuyInChina who forwarded a speech about Xmas. I loved his message about Xmas actually being an international festival that focuses on spreading happiness, peace and goodwill to all people. I revamped it to fit my primary school audience, and felt that with some Xmas songs, etc. 10-20 minutes with such a multi-level audience should be no problem.

Having been in China for some time now, I have learned to come over-prepared and prepared for disappointment. Well, the Chinese didn't let me down! I was whisked backstage and, 2 minutes before going on stage, was told to "keep it to 10 minutes or less"!

The speech had to be edited down for a second time. But, I did a bang-up job for the kids, by presenting the Xmas speech, getting everyone to sing Jingle Bells, and then finished off by teaching everyone a 'funky-style' Head & Shoulders activity, which they loved! Total time = 9 minutes! I was a hit!

For those of you who actually submitted advice, thank you. For the others, don't you think it's time you all returned home?! No more posts please, this thread is DONE!

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

Vikuk, be nice, it's China we're all languishing in. Every foreigner here is entitled to their English Corner moments of fame, surreptitious cellphone camera snaps at the park, and the occasional treat to dinner for having helped out with "a good cause".

Back home it's just 3983-21-A290 plodding along with the other bundles of lifeless packaging. At least here you might find yourself in an advertisement for the usual drudgery!

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Somebody somewhere owes you another 6 minutes

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

gee just do it. 20 min? That is nothing for the amount of good will you could create. It does not matter if they like it or not. It's the though that counts. Just go up there and lecture for 20 min. no sweat.
To say no is mean.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

it's true, Andy Warhol, every one will get their ten minutes of fame (what we will get afterwards ... I'm not sure he said

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Aussie

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

This is china . Sing a song do a dance and make them laugh at the impoverished foreigner.
Actually this is like shooting fish in a barrel. Put on a Santa hat and have the kids come up one at a time and ask them questions in English they understand . Ask the teachers to come up and sit on your lap and ask them if they were good teachers this year? I sing the twelve days of Christmas to them (kills ten minutes).
But really it is time Chinese respected foreigners and paid them for their services. I've have done the Christmas gig many times here and now they want me to travel thousands of miles for 1000 rmb. I can't do it because I have exams to mark classes to be made up,do to the holidays.
I have become Chinese now . The spirit of Christmas means "What's in it for me.

AussieGuyInChina · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 403

Brian Caulfield · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 1247 Location: China

Aussi Guy all computers in CHina have Chinese writing . You just hit the bottom two tabs on the left and you will switch into Chinese. You type the Pinyin and choose the character you want.